Method of and apparatus for producing mattresses



2 Sheet-Sheet H. M. HERBENER Filed May 22, 1924 METHOD OF AND APPARATUSFOR PRODUCING MATTRESSES April 30. :1 929.

April 30, 1929.

H. M. HERBENER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MATTRESSES FiledMay 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I gmntoz fzezzry M fleweizer,

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES A 1,710,978 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. HEBBENER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO CONSOLIDATED MATTRESS PORA'IION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS Application filed Kay 22,.

My invention relates to a method of and ap aratus for producingmattresses.

n accordance with my method, I contemplate taking the linters from alinter gin and introducing the same to the screen drum of a condenser.Instead of obtaining the lintersfrom a linter gin that is ginning thecotton seed, I ma introduce into this gin previously baled lmters, andregin the same to aerate it, or may pass the baled linters through awillow or opener and pass this reginned or aerated liners to thecondenser. I also contemplate reginning or aerating cotton and cottonwaste, thereby using cotton fibre which has been reginned or aerated.The layer of cotton fibre or linters, thus ginned or reginned, oraerated, is removed from the condenser drum or screen and passed over alapper which arranges the same in layers, in a stepped manner, upon acontinuously traveling endless belt, producing a felt. The felt thusproduced is built up to the proper thickness for a mattress and may betorn or cut at suitable points, producing a section of felt of thedesired length for the mattress. This cut section of felt may now besuitably, com pressed and fed into the tick or casing of a' mattress,which is removed from the stufiing machine and transferred to the sewingmachine. A new tick is at once placed uponthe stuiling machine. I alsocontemplate a somewhat simplified method, in whidh the fglt is firstcompressed and fed into the tick, and then torn, or cut when the tick isfilled. By virtue of this method, I am enabled to handle the linters orcotton fibre, directly from the condenser, and supply the same into thetick, in a continuous and expeditious 40 manner.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are em loyed to designate. like parts throughoutt e same, Figure 1 is a plan view, partly diagrammatic, of apparatusembodying my invention, parts broken away,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a sideelevation of the mattress 1 rollers 23.

stuffing machine, and associated elements,

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section through a stationary chute orslide,

/ Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of mattress stuflingmachine,

inclined stationary chute, embodying co., 011 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, Acom non rnonucma mm'rrnnssns.

1924. Serial no. 715,227.

Figure 5 is a similarview of a further 1 modified form of mattressmaking machine, Figure 6 is a side elevation of a further modified formof the invention, and,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the combs. In the drawings, wherein forthe purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of myinvention, the numeral 10 designates a cotton or linter gin or regin,preferably of the construction shown in my copendmg application formethod of ro- 1 ducing felt from cotton and linter fibre, led February15th, 1924, Serial No. 693,136. This gin is adapted to remove thelinters from the cotton seed, and to aerate the same. Leading into thetop of the linter gin casing 10 is a suction pipe 11,'leading to theeasing of a condenser 12, within which is rotated the usual screen drum13. The casing has communication with a suction fan or blower 14. Thelinters or'cotton fibre accumulates upon the upper surface of the screendrum 13, and is removed therefrom "by rollers 15, and the layer oflinters or cotton fibre is then passed upon a lapping machine 16. Thislapping machine embodies an endless conveyor passed over a frame 17,pivotally supported at 18, to swing in'a vertical plane. The movable endof the frame is pivoted to thecompanion frame 19, and this companionframe has its 0 posite end sup ported by wheels 20, whic travel upon atrack 21. The usual means is employed to cause the lower/ end of theframe 19 to travel back and forth upon the-horizonta1 track 21, wherebythe frame sections 19, at g their upper ends, reciprocate vertically; Bythis means, the layer of linters or cotton fibre is distributed inlayers, in stepped relation, upon a continuously traveli endless belt22. The construction of the apper 1 is generally that shown in theordinary camel-back lapper, although other forms of lappers can be used.g

The endless belt 22 is preferably slightly inclined, and is adapted todischargethe felt I produced thereon by the lapping operation, upon agravity operated conveyor, which is inclined and embodies a plurality ofidler The vity operated conveyor, Figure 3, may o be in the form of an 1an 1nclined bottom 23f and sides 23 he felt slides down this inclinedchute. Prior to the passage of the felt upon this gravity conveyor, thefelt is preferably torn or cut into a desired length. This isaccomplished by passing the felt between upper and lower rollers 24 and24; and 25 and 25'. The rollers 24 and 24' are not vertically movableand are driven at the same speed. The rollers 25 and 25 are verticallymovable, and rotate in the same direction as the rollers 24 and 24', butat a higher rate of speed. When the rollers 25 and 25 are moved inwardlyso that they engage with the cotton felt, they pull, tear or break thesame at this point, producing the section 26, of the desired length topass into the mattress casing. The gravity conveyor is convenient,inasmuch as it produces a slight intermittent feed of the felt sectionand the-mattress stuffing machine, .thus giving sufiicient time tick andto place another casing or tick thereon.

The gravity conveyor discharges upon an endless conveyor 27, included ina mattress stuflingma'chine. The endless conveyor 27 is preferablyhorizontally arranged, and above it is an inclined endless conveyor 28,the conveyors traveling in the direction of the arrows. The conveyors 27a d 28 are therefore arranged in a Wedging r lation, tapering forwardly,toward the nozzle 29.

This nozzle is preferably slightly transversely tapered, increasing inwidth forwardly. The nozzle receives thereon the open end or side of thetick or casing, which is supported upon the rolling table 30 whenfilled. The section of felt thus passed between the endless belts 27 and28, is compressed, and fed through the nozzle 29 into the tick, andsupported upon the table 30. The table is then rolled to the sewingmachine, and the open end of the stuffed tick is sewed as it passesunder the sewing machine, after which the table 30 is returned to thestuffing machine, to receive another tick filled with felt from thenozzle 29. The next out section of felt will then be fed to the stulfingmachine and into the mattress ticking.

In Figure 4 I have shown a slight modification of the mattress stufiingmachine. In this modification, the upper inclined endless belt 28 isdispensed with, and a coacting cylinder 28 substituted therefor. Thefelt is pressed between the cylinder 28 and the 55 endless belt 27 andis fed through the nozzle 29.

In Figure 5 I have shown a further modification of the stufiing machine.I The endless belts 27 and 28 are dispensed with, and the rollers 23 ofthe gravity conveyor passed directly to cylinders 31, which serve tocompress the felt and force it through the nozzle All other parts of theapparatus remain the same.

In Figure 6.1 have shown a further modito remove thepreviousl-y stuffedcasing ormattress casing and sewing the same.

fication of the invention. The gravity conveyor, and the cutting of thefelt before it passesthereon, is dispensed with. The endless belt 22,upon which the layers of linters or cotton is lapped, discharges througha passage between the belt 22 and a compression roller 31, which servesto compress the felt and force it through a nozzle 32, having themattress casing thereon, which is later supported by the table 30, as itbecomes filled with felt. Arranged near the discharge end of the nozzle32 are upper and lower vertically movable combs 33 and 34. These combsare normally arranged out of engagement with the mattress casing andabove and below the discharge end of the nozzle. After, a suitableamount of felt is thus fed into the casing, the casing is removed fromthe nozzle, and thecombs 33 and 34 moved inwardly and penetrate thefelt.The upper con b may be employed to hold the felt against movement whilethe lower comb may be moved toward the table 30, thus tearing orbreaking the felt.., The invention is in no sense restricted to thisparticular means of cutting, tearing. or breaking of the felt, as othermeans may be employed, such as rollers, blades or the like.

It isto be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown anddescribed, are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims. v

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1

1. The hereindescribed method of pro-- ducing a mattress, whichcomprises deposm iting fibre upon a revolving screen in the presence ofan air current, removing the layer of fibre thus deposited andcontinuously lapping the same for producing a felt of the properthickness for a mattress while effecting the longitudinal travel of thefelt, immediately compressing the felt thus produced and passing asuitable length of the same into a mattress casing, and removing themattress casing and sewing up the same.

2. The hereindescribed method of producing a mattress, which compriseslapping a layer of linters, cotton or fibre upon a trav cling support,for producing felt the correct thickness for a mattresss, receiving the124] felt from the discharge end of the support and immediately;compressing the same and passing the same through a nozzle holdingthereon a mattress casing, and removing the 125 3. The hereindescribedmethod of produc ing a mattress, which comprises lapping a layer oflinters, cotton, or fibres upon a traveling support for producing feltof a suitable thickness to properly fill a mattress, 13o.

dividing the felt thus produced into sections of suitable length,independently effecting the longitudinal travel of each section andimmediately compressing the same, and passing the compressed sectionthrough a nozzle receiving thereon a mattress casing, and removing thecasing and sewing the same.

4. The hereindescribed method of producing a mattress, which compriseslapping a layer of linters or cotton fibre upon a traveling support forproducing felt the proper thickness for a mattress, While effecting thecontinuous movement of thefelt, dividing the traveling felt intosections of suitable length for filling a mattress casing, effecting anintermittent longitudinal travel of each section, immediately suitablycompressing each section after the intermediate travel, passing thecompressed section through a nozzle having a mattress casing thereon,

and removing the mattress casing after being filled and sewing the same.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a traveling support, meansfor lapping fibrous material upon the support for producing a felt, anidle conveyor, and a felt compressing apparatus, all of said devicesbeing arranged to receive the material one' from the other, means tocutthe felt into suitable lengths as it discharges from the travelingsupport, and a nozzle for the reception of a mattress ticking arrangedat the discharge end of the compresssing means.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a conveyor, .means forlapping fibrous material upon the conveyor for producing a felt, a feltcompressing apparatus arranged at an elevation beneath the conveyor, anozzle to receive the felt from such apparatus, an inclined gravityoperated roller conveyor connecting the conveyor belt and thecompressing apparatus, and apparatus to cut the felt in suitable lengthsas. it discharges from the conveyor belt.

7. The method of producing mattresses, comprising the steps of lapping aselected number 0 layers of condensed aerated fibrous material intoafelt, thereby produc ing such felt in the proper thickness to fill themattress casing, compressing the original felt thus produced, and thenpassing the same into the mattress casing, all of such steps beingcarried out in a substantially continuous corelated manner.

8. The method of producing mattresses, comprising the steps of lapping aselected number of layers of condensed aerated fibrous material into afelt, thereby producing such felt in the proper thickness to fill themattress casing, and also forming the felt in a proper width-and lengthto fill the mattress casing, then compressing the felt thus produced,and passing the same into the mattress casing, all of said steps be ingcarried out in a substantially continuous corelated manner.

9. The method. of producing mattresses,

comprising the steps of lapping a selected number of layers of condensedaerated fibrous material into a felt, thereby producing such felt in theproper thickness to fill the mattress casing, and also forming the feltin a proper Width and length to fill the mattress casing, effecting thetravel of the felt from the lapping position and immediately compressingthe same, and then feeding the same in the mattress casing, all of suchsteps being carried out in a substantially continuous corelated manner.

10. The method. of producing mattresses, comprising the steps ofcondensing aerated fibrous material upon a revolving screen, removingthe condensed fibrous material and lapping a selected number of layersof the same into a felt having the proper thickness to fill the mattresscasing and also forming the felt in a width and length to fill themattress casing, effecting the travel of the felt from the lappingposition and compressing the same, and passing the felt into the amattress casing.

11. The method of producing mattresses, comprising the steps of lappinga continuous layer of condensed aerated fibrous material into a selectedi'numberof layers to produce a felt in the proper thickness to fill themattress casing, compressing the original felt thus produced and thenpass ing the same into the mattress casing, all of said steps beingcarried out in a substantially continuous co-related manner.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature;

HENRY M. HERBENER.

